Device power control

Abstract

In various embodiments and/or usage scenarios, device power control, such as relating to one or more power control commands, requests to transition operation to a specific power mode, and/or device power management commands, is advantageous and improves one or more of: performance, reliability, unit cost, and development cost of one or more devices, such as storage devices (e.g. a Solid-State Disk (SSD)) or systems including same.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising steps of:
 while operating an interface of a storage device in accordance with a current power mode, receiving a request to transition the operating of the interface to a specific power mode;   in response to receiving the request, accessing information concerning a current operating power state of the storage device;   based upon the requested specific power mode and the current operating power state of the storage device, determining a new power mode; and   operating the interface in accordance with the new power mode, wherein the new power mode is different than the specific power mode.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the specific power mode is a higher-power mode than the current power mode, and the new power mode is identical to the current power mode. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the current operating power state prioritizes decreased power over increased performance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the specific power mode is a lower-power mode than the current power mode, and the new power mode is identical to the current power mode. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the current operating power state prioritizes increased performance over decreased power. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  21 , further comprising steps of:
 in response to receiving the request, determining whether the interface is operating in a compatible mode or an enhanced mode;   upon determining that the interface is operating in the enhanced mode, performing the accessing, determining, and operating steps; and   upon determining that the interface is operating in the compatible mode, operating the interface in accordance with the requested specific power mode.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the interface is compatible with at least one storage interface standard. 
     
     
         28 . A storage device comprising:
 a non-volatile memory comprising one or more flash memory devices; and   a controller operably connected to the non-volatile memory and comprising an interface, the controller configured to:
 while operating the interface in accordance with a current power mode, receive a request to transition the operating of the interface to a specific power mode, 
 in response to receiving the request, access information concerning a current operating power state of the storage device, 
 based upon the requested specific power mode and the current operating power state of the storage device, determine a new power mode, and 
 operating the interface in accordance with the new power mode, wherein the new power mode is different than the specific power mode. 
   
     
     
         29 . The storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the information concerning the current operating power state of the storage device indicates whether one of increased performance and decreased power is a current objective. 
     
     
         30 . The storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the specific power mode comprises one of an active power mode, a partial power mode, and a slumber power mode. 
     
     
         31 . The storage device of  claim 30 , wherein the request comprises a request to transition the interface to the slumber power mode and the information concerning the current operating power state of the storage device indicates latency in the storage device is to be optimized, and wherein determining the new power mode comprises selecting the partial power mode as the new power mode. 
     
     
         32 . The storage device of  claim 30 , wherein the request comprises a request to transition the interface to the partial power mode and the information concerning the current operating power state of the storage device indicates power savings in the storage device is to be optimized, and wherein determining the new power mode comprises selecting the slumber power mode as the new power mode. 
     
     
         33 . The storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 in response to receiving the request, determine whether the interface is operating in a compatible mode or an enhanced mode;   upon determining that the interface is operating in the enhanced mode, perform the accessing, determining, and operating steps; and   upon determining that the interface is operating in the compatible mode, operate the interface in accordance with the requested specific power mode.   
     
     
         34 . The storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the interface is compatible with at least one storage interface standard. 
     
     
         35 . The storage device of  claim 28 , wherein the request is received from a host connected to the interface. 
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by a processing element of a storage controller operably connected to a storage device, cause the storage controller to:
 while operating an interface of a storage device in accordance with a current power mode, receiving a request to transition the operating of the interface to a specific power mode;   in response to receiving the request, accessing information concerning a current operating power state of the storage device;   based upon the requested specific power mode and the current operating power state of the storage device, determining a new power mode; and   operating the interface in accordance with the new power mode, wherein the new power mode is different than the specific power mode.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the specific power mode is a higher-power mode than the current power mode, and the new power mode is identical to the current power mode. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the current operating power state prioritizes decreased power over increased performance. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the specific power mode is a lower-power mode than the current power mode, and the new power mode is identical to the current power mode. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein the current operating power state prioritizes increased performance over decreased power.